40 on 40: Episode 6: House and Home

First aired: Thursday, July 21, 2005, 7:30 pm
Episode summary by Singapore TV

HDB HOMES - What more can we say about HDB but that it has literally changed the way we live and that the touches that come with our flats (from cement floors to marble) have come to symbolize our changing lifestyle and aspiration.

CONDOS & LANDED PROPERTY - Still on the theme of aspirations, owning a house ("landed property" we call it) and later in the 80s, a condo with country club facilities, has always been a Singaporean dream, despite having one of the most expensive real estate prices in the world. So what drives that dream? Status, investment or just the good life?

by MediaCorp

About the show

Lim Yu Beng hosts this 13-episode exposé into Singapore's many systems made good. Identifying 40 truly Singaporean trends, and crossing the nation's 40th birthday to end in late August, 40 on 40 will make you rethink home as you know it. English subtitling will also be included in each episode to allow everyone to enjoy the show, including the hearing impaired.

It's a chance at questioning what could have been and what if some trends were continued. For example, imagine if water rationing is still the norm, going on holidays meant a trip up the Cameron Highlands, that National Service was not compulsory for every male, and if there was no Esplanade?

To keep you warm and fuzzy, reminisce about how there was a public debate on what kind of seats MRT trains should have (steel or cushions), the first ATM machines springing up in 1970s for accessible banking and the "Stop at 2" baby campaign. Fast forward to the present and you would say hello to the emerging norms of a Singaporean household today: an indispensable tuition teacher, the ever-necessary maid in tow, and the kiasu Singaporean parent keeping up with the education system. Ah. Home sweet home.

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